The Town FilesJohnstown, Pennsylvania
City in Cambria County · population 18,411 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $45,400
- Household income
- $37,888
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 84 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 44.0
Johnstown is a city of 18,411 people in Cambria County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $45,400, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks hipper than 94% of Pennsylvania towns, more walkable than 92% of Pennsylvania towns, better transit than 89% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Johnstown ranks
Percentile among Pennsylvania towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Pennsylvania towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Johnstown is worth $45,400, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 1.2 times the median household income of $37,888, which is more affordable than 99% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $644 a month. 55.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Johnstown | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $45,400 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $644 | $996 |
| Median household income | $37,888 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 55.2% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1942 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.6% | — |
Who lives in Johnstown
| People | Johnstown | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.0 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.3% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.8% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 31.9% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 11.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.1% | — |
| Work from home | 10.1% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 19.7 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.4% | 89.0% |
Weather in Johnstown
July highs average 78.6°F and January lows 19.2°F. About 41.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 84.1 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 0 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 127 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Johnstown since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on July 18, 2026 about 10.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 18, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 15 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 17, 1960.
Severe weather in Cambria County since 1996
Cambria County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 11, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4815: Tropical Storm Debby |
| March 30, 2020 | Biological | DR-4506: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3441: Covid-19 |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356: Hurricane Sandy |
| September 8, 2011 | Flood | EM-3340: Remnants Of Tropical Storm Lee |
Jobs and pay in Cambria County
Cambria County had 47,545 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,791 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Johnstown itself the ACS puts it at 6.2%.
Public schools in Johnstown
14 public schools with 7,563 students, about 13.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greater Johnstown El Sch | PK-4 | 1,181 | 16.6 |
| Greater Johnstown SHS | 8-12 | 856 | 12.4 |
| Richland El Sch | K-6 | 822 | 15.5 |
| Westmont Hilltop El Sch | K-6 | 737 | 14.7 |
| Westmont Hilltop JSHS | 7-12 | 708 | 14.8 |
| Richland HS | 7-12 | 707 | 14.4 |
| Greater Johnstown MS | 5-7 | 631 | 12.9 |
| Conemaugh Valley El Sch | PK-6 | 389 | 11.1 |
| Conemaugh Twp Area El Sch | K-5 | 386 | 12.1 |
| Ferndale El Sch | PK-6 | 323 | 12.4 |
| Conemaugh Valley JSHS | 7-12 | 306 | 10.6 |
| Ferndale Area JSHS | 7-12 | 284 | 8.9 |
Towns near Johnstown
- Westmont, PA1.8 mi · 4,982 people · home $180,800
- Elim, PA2.4 mi · 3,364 people · home $113,000
- Stonycreek, PA2.7 mi · 2,771 people · home $100,900
- Belmont, PA3.6 mi · 2,771 people · home $144,900
- Upper Yoder, PA4.2 mi · 5,147 people · home $152,800
- Richland, PA4.9 mi · 12,233 people · home $190,000
- Conemaugh, PA6.6 mi · 6,760 people · home $166,100
- Windber, PA8.0 mi · 3,941 people · home $99,000
Johnstown questions
Is Johnstown, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Johnstown scores better for retirees than 3% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 10%. 20.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.0).
How much does a house cost in Johnstown?
The median owner-occupied home in Johnstown is valued at $45,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $37,888, so homes cost about 1.2 times income. Median rent is $644 a month.
What is the weather like in Johnstown?
July highs average 78.6°F and January lows 19.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.3 inches of precipitation a year and 84.1 inches of snow.
Does Johnstown get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Johnstown since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on July 18, 2026. The typical Pennsylvania town has had 10.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)